How to Make a Bird Food Cake

Do you love to attract birds and feathered friends to your window or deck? Do they seem to disappear in the cooler months when food is more scarce? Do you want to give them a special treat other than the plain old bird food from the pet supply store? A homemade treat for the birds is a great way to bring some visual enjoyment to the cooler months spent indoors. Cuting down on plastic waste and store bought bird feeders by making your own bird food cake for all of the feathered friends in your yard you are helps nature's creatures while saving mother earth one step at a time.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 16 oz Empty plastic food container (recycled)
• Non-Stick cooking spray
• 1 cup Shortening
• 1/4 cup Coconut flakes
• 1/4 cup Sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup All natural bird seed
• 1/4 cup Whole oats
• 1/4 cup Raisins
• Plastic hook
• Fishing line
• Craft scissors
• Stove
• 3 Quart sauce pan

1. Spray the inside of the empty plastic food container thoroughly with non stick cooking spray.

2. Fill the three quart saucepan with the shortening and place the saucepan on the stove. Set the temperature to medium and allow the shortening to change into a liquid form. Once the shortening reaches a liquid form, remove from heat immediately.

3. Proceed to add all of the dry ingredients. Pour the mixture into the container. Allow to the mixture to set for fifteen minutes so that the mixture cools slightly.

4. Insert the hook into the top of the mixture. Allow the mixture to cool and harden for 24 hours.

5. Using scissors, cut and tie the fishing line to the end of the hook to match up to your desired length. Tip the container upside down and gently massage the container to allow the cake to break away.

6. Hang the bird food cake up in the designated outdoor area and enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• This bird food cake works best in cooler months such as early spring, late fall and winter.
• Feel free to reuse any plastic food container to form your food cake, you can choose a larger container such as a cottage cheese container or a smaller one such as a yogurt container.
• Allow the mixture to form slightly so that the hook will stand upright.
• Go to a store that sells food in bulk to purchase the items for the food cake.
• Avoid buying food that contains salt or added preservatives.
• Make sure the shortening is free of added flavors.
• Purchase the hook at your local hardware store.
• Do not pull or tug on the hook of the bird food cake, this could cause the cake to fall apart.
• Make the bird food cake hang as low or as high you like by adjusting the fishing line.
• Hang your bird food cake near a window or deck for hours of enjoyment.
• Do not hang up the cake outside in the hot summer months, the cake will melt and fall apart.
• Do not boil the shortening.
• Do not add the dry mixture into the hot shortening when it is over open heat.